marines

The Yarmouth Mariners scored the first goal of the game twice this weekend, but that was all the offence they could muster.

Carrying a 1-1 record after opening weekend, the Mariners hosted the defending champion Truro Bearcats Friday night, before a rematch with the Valley Wildcats in Berwick on Saturday night.

It was a well-played game from both sides Friday, the Mariners fell 3-1.

Yarmouth native Karter Bain opened the scoring in the second period for his first MHL goal.

“It was awesome, I’ve never played in front of this many fans in my life, and to score there was just amazing,” said the 18-year-old after the game.

“I tried to shoot low-blocker and it worked out. Truro is a good team, we only had a few shifts where we didn’t play our best, but we were with them the whole game.”

Head Coach and GM Laurie Barron says Bain is a feel-good story.

“We’ve seen him on this ice surface since he was four years old, he grew up playing minor hockey here. I’m proud of Karter, he’s played extremely well, and he’s done well in every situation I’ve put him in.”

But Bearcats would tie the game later in the period on a goal by Logan Trewin, and goals by Callum Aucoin and Matthew Vohra put the game out of reach in the third.

Barron says the game was there for the taking.

“In key situations we shot ourselves in the foot. I thought we had a great chance to win the game, a couple of big mistakes found the back of the net. Hell of a hockey game and we were right there with them, but this isn’t a try league, it’s a do league.” said Barron.

Brett Ruddy was solid in goal, making 31 saves in his second start of the season.

Attendance was 1,069.

Mariners fall big to Valley again

Yarmouth then hit the road Saturday to face the Wildcats, hoping for a better result than last weekend’s 10-1 home-opening defeat to Valley.

It ended up being much of the same, a 6-1 loss this time.

The game started well, with Ryder MacQueen scoring his first of the season on the powerplay late in the first.

But the Wildcats’ offence woke up, scoring three goals in the second and three in the third to chase Brett Ruddy from the net.

He finished with 41 saves, and the Mariners were outshot 58-33.

Chandler Bell played the last six minutes of the game and stopped 11 of 12 shots.

Special teams struggling

Penalty killing hasn’t been kind to the Mariners in their 1-3 start to the season.

They’ve allowed six power-play goals in four games, more than anyone else in the MHL.

The Mariners have scored one shorthanded goal (Jared Pitman vs. West Kent on September 13,) matching their total from last season.

Yarmouth’s powerplay has converted three times on 13 chances, they are 7th in the league.

Two games this weekend

The Mariners have back-to-back games against Eastlink North Division teams this weekend.

On Friday night, they’ll welcome the Edmundston Blizzard to town, and Saturday the Chaleur Lightning make their lone visit to the Fishtank.

Game times are 7 p.m, tickets are available at the Mariners Centre box office.